House passes Hochul bill to help vets

by jmaloni

Thu, Nov 29th 2012 11:00 am

On Nov. 27, the House of Representatives
passed H.R. 6328, The Clothe a Homeless Hero Act, which was introduced by Rep.
Kathy Hochul.

The legislation will require the
Transportation Security Administration to partner with the Department of
Veterans Affairs and local charities to distribute unclaimed clothing left at
airport security checkpoints to homeless and needy veterans and veterans'
families. The bill passed by voice vote with strong support from members of
both parties.

"As cold weather approaches across much of
the country, this legislation will be a greatly needed help for homeless
veterans while we work to end homelessness for good. It is unconscionable that
so many of our veterans are homeless, and we must support our returning heroes.
I am proud that my legislation to assist veterans passed with the bipartisan
support of my colleagues," Hochul said.

According to the VA, approximately 75,000
veterans are homeless on any given night, and about 20,000 veterans of the wars
in Iraq and Afghanistan have been homeless within the last five years.